Community Services Support
The Community Human Service Partnership (CHSP) was formed sixteen years ago. Three funding sources, the United Way of Big Bend, Leon County and the City of Tallahassee agreed to pool their human service money, and to involve citizens in awarding grants. This year, for the first time, I volunteered to serve on a Review Team.
There are ten teams reading applications from not-for-profit service agencies and moving out into the community to hear their presentations. All of us serving on Review Teams had to attend a day-long training session where we were given guidelines for reading the applications, and encouraged to read every application with a critical eye.
After reading hundred of pages of application materials, I traveled to four agencies with my team last Thursday, and we will hear presentations from two more human service agencies this week. Then, the team will begin deliberations. Every application and presentation will be scrutinized to determine if the agency will make the best possible use of the money. In tight times, many agencies are looking for increased funding over last year’s award. Sadly, those same tight times will likely mean that the CHSP has fewer dollars to spend, even while agencies are beginning to experience the squeeze of sequestration.
The team I’m serving on is responsible for reviewing applications from agencies that provide physical health services. I’ve already learned a tremendous amount about a handful of area agencies addressing the health needs of low and moderate income adults. I’m grateful to learn that so many professionals and volunteers are collaborating on fulfilling the needs of people who don’t have health insurance or discretionary dollars to spend on health care. It is also frightening to think that so many hours and so many dollars are devoted to trying desperately to fill the gaps. I’m prompted to once again shake my head over the gulf between generous hearts that want to serve, and the cruel fact that affordable health care is not yet available to all.
All the agencies I’ve read about and seen could put scads more money to good use serving many of the most vulnerable people in our society. All of it makes me think of a TED talk by Dan Pallotta.* He notes that homelessness hasn’t been eradicated in any city, and that other great demands are not being met. He suggests, among other things, that we need to completely change our attitude toward non-profits and how much money they should be able to raise and use for the services they provide. I recommend it for anyone who’s ever wondered why Jesus’ prediction that the poor will always be with us has been fulfilled for thousands of years. Dan Pollatta may describe some of the attitudes that help to keep the poor poor and the non-profit agencies that serve them equally strapped.
Yours, in hope,
Robin
